Bale-tie opener



(No Model.)

0. R. GAS'KILL. BALE TIE OPENER.

No. 583,596. Patented June 1,1897.

I "Ill-MIMI W YQW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLINTON R. GASKILL, OF BRO'WNVVOOD, TEXAS.

BALE-TIE OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,596, dated June 1, 1897.

Application filed December 11, 1896. Serial No. 615,341. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern- Be it known that I, CLINTON R. GASKILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brownwood, in the county of Brown, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ootton-Bale-Tie Openers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has for its object to provide a simple and durable device by means of which the buckles or securing devices on cotton-bale ties or bands may be readily opened and the band removed from the bale without destroying the buckle or the band, so that they may be again used.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularlypoin-ted out in the claims appended In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing device in position to open baletie buckle. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the opener. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation showing the jaws open, portions being broken away to show the construction. Fig. 4 is a side elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the operation of the buckle.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, 1 1 designate the operating-levers, which are each pivoted on a pin 2 in bars 3 3, one of said bars being placed on each face of the levers near their converged forward ends. These forward ends are formed into openerjaws 4L 4., whose straight inner edges abut to- In the in gether when the jaws are closed. ner edges of each of these jaws at a point in line with the two pivots 2 2 is formed a semicircular recess 5, and within the circular opening formed by these recesses is placeda loose cylindrical pin 6. From the rear edge of each of the recesses 5 the levers 1 extend outwardly, as shown. The outer edges of the jaws 4 are tapered toward their forward ends and are each formed with the heads or slight enlargements 7 on said outer edge at their extreme forward ends.

Formed on the forward edge of one of the bars 3 is a forwardly-extending guide or gage 8. This gage is offset from the jaws at a suitable distance and is forked, as shown, to fit over the band, said band extending between the fork when the device is in operative position. The operation of this portion of my device is as follows: The jaws 4 4. are brought together and theirheaded ends 7 placed within the central opening of a buckle, the guide-fork being placed over the band near the edge of the buckle. The levers l 1 are now brought together, thereby opening the jaws 4 et and spreading the jaws of the buckle sufficiently to free the band. The guide 8 holds the band steady in a central position and permits the buckle-jaws to leave the band simultaneously. This is a great advantage, for otherwise the band would be likely to remain engaged with one jaw of the buckle after the other one had been disengaged therefrom, in which case it would be difficult to disconnect the band and the one jaw and would require another operation of the device. The joint formed by the pins 6 and recesses 5 5 causes the jaws to open simultaneously and causes an equal movement of the jaws, thereby insuring the simultaneous release of the two jaws of the buckle from the bale-band.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cotton-bale-tie opener the combination of a pair of levers, opening jaws formed on said levers, a pivot for each lever, a strap supporting said pivots, and a band-gage carried by said strap and adapted to fit over the bale-band and hold it against lateral movement and permit it to have a longitudinal movement through the gage, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a pair of levers, in-

dependent pivots for same, a bar or strap supporting said pivots, a recess formed in the inner adjacent edges of each lever, a pin fitting loosely within said recesses and connecting the two levers, whereby the pivotal movement of one lever will be communicated to the other, and opening jaws formed on said levers, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a pair of levers pivotally supported, opening jaws formed thereon, and a band-engaging device carried by said levers, and adapted to engage the bale-band and hold it against lateral movement while the buckle is being opened and yet permit it to have longitudinal movement when the buckle is opened, substantially as described.

4. In a cotton-bale-tie opener the combination of a pair of levers, pivotally supported, opening jaws formed thereon, and a bandgage carried by said levers, said gage being open at its lower end and adapted to fit over the band when the opening jaws are in the IQ buckle and hold said band against lateral movement and yet permit it to have a 1ongitudinal movement, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLINTON R. GAS KILL.

Vitnesses:

R. P. MUNN, JOHN Y. RANKIN, Sr. 

